Velocipede-frame.



No. s7|,o53. Patented Apr. 2, |901'. E. e..` LATTA.

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(Application led June 13, 1900.1 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sh'eetrl,

N0. 67|.053. l Patented `Apr. 2, |90l. E.- G. LATTA.

...VELCIPEDE FRAME.

(Application med :une 19,4900.;

(Ilo Modal.)

2 Sheats-Shasi 2 rw: nonnls virtus no.4 niermann.. wmmm'omua Y'llNTTnnSTATES PATENT CFFTCE.

EMMIT G. LATTA, CF FRIENDSHIP, NEW YORK.

VELOClPEDE-FRM.

SPCIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 671,053, dated Apri-l 2,1901. Application led Tune 13, 1900. Serial No. 20,137. (No model.)

This invention relates to the joint or union between the frame memberswhich meet at the crank hanger or bracket.

My invention has for its objects to produce a frame in which the membersare connected together independently of the crank-hanger and to combinethe frame with the hangerin` such manner as to render the same lighter,less expensive, stronger, and more reliable than the frames now ingeneral use.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure l is afragmentary side elevation of the frame and the hanger. Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section inline 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. e is a detached side elevation of the connectingclip or union. Fig. 5 is avertical longitudinal section of a modifiedconstruction of the joint. Fig. 6 is a similar view of anothermodification, the plane of the section being in line 6 6, Fig. 7. Fig. 7is a cross-section inline 7 7, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectionin line 8 8, Fig. 6.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A A are the inclined front and rear portions of the reach, whichpreferably consist of two separate tubes having their adjoining endportions telescoped or fitted one within the other, as shown in'Fig. 2,and secured together by brazing.

B is the upright tube member of the velocipede-frame, and C is a clip orunion which connects said tube member with the reach. This clip embracesthe bottom and sides of the meeting or telescoped portions of thereach-sections and is provided at its upper side with a projectingtubular lug or nipple c, to which the lower end of the upright framemember B is secured by brazing or otherwise, said member beingpreferably fitted over said nipple, as shown. The clip C may be cheaplyconstructed of a blank of sheet metal which is bent around the reach andwhich has its end portions brought together above the reach, each ofsaid end portions being semicylindrical in form. As the reach sectionson opposite sides of the clip C are arranged at an angle to each other,the portions thereof embraced by the clip are curved or connected by aneasy bend. The clip C and the telescoped portions of the reach membersare provided with coinciding openings e e for the passage of thecrauk-shaft, which latter is notshown in the drawings. This constructionforms a strong and inexpensive connection Which reliably7 unites saidmembers in the absence of the crankhanger D; but the hanger ispreferably combined with the frame members, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and8. The hangeris arranged concentrically with the shaft-openings e e andprovided centrally in its upper, front, and rear sides withopeningsfff2, arranged in line with each other circumferentially of thehanger, through which openings the upright frame member B andthe frontand rear reach members A A pass and in which they are brazed. The hangermay consist of a piece Yof ordinary seamless tubing of the desiredVlength and diameter.

The usual ball-bearings, which are seated in the ends of the hanger, arenot shown in the drawings. By this construction the hanger is rigidlyunited to the frame members, and it in turn aids in iirmly connectingthe members.

In assembling the parts the clip C is first placed in the hanger byinserting it in one end thereof and passing its nipple through the upperopening of the hanger, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. Thereach-tubes A A are then passed through the respective openings of thehanger and through the clip C and telescoped within the hanger, after`which the lower end of the upright frametube B is passed over thenipple of the clip and through the upper opening of the hanger, theseveral parts being nally united by brazing. The frame-tubes and theclip are held together for brazing by a single transverse pin g, whichpasses through said parts inside of the hanger, thus avoiding marring ofthe outer or exposed portions of the tubes. This improved joint isespecially adapted for braz` ing by immersion, and as the several jointsare very close together they can be easily heated and brazed morequickly than a con- IOO struction in which the joints are farther apartand have to be heated separately.

rlhe upper end of the clip-nipple c is cut off obliquely, as shown inFig. 4, to facilitate its insertion in the hanger and avoid forming arigid annular shoulder or joint in the upright tube B. The clip C, whileforming a union between the upright-tube member B and the reach, alsoserves as a reinforcement for the portion of the reach within thehanger.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 5 the rear section of thereach is made lof heavier tubing than the front section, but of the sameexternal diameter, and the two sections meet within the clip in abutt-joint instead of being telescoped.

Both of the constructions hereinbefore described are designed for aframe of the socalled three-crown pattern, or a frame in which the rearfork is connected with the reach by a fork-crown arranged at the rearend of the rear reach-section. If desired, the rear fork may beconnected directly tothe portion of the reach within the hanger, asshown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. In this case the rear fork consists of thetwo tubes A2 A3, which converge toward the hanger and meet Within thereach-tube A4, the portions of the forktubes arrangedin the reach beingparallel and of D-shaped cross-section, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Theportions of the fork-'tubes outside of the reach are preferably oval orelliptical in cross-section and taper in a transverse direction from thebridge h to the rear side of the hanger, where they merge into theD-shaped cross-section above described. From the bridge h the fork-tubesdiverge rearwardly at a less angle than from the hanger to said bridge.The parallel front portions of the fork-tubes are curved to fit into thereach, as shown in Fig. 6, and their flat sides bear against each other,as shown in Fig. 7. The lower end of the upright tube B may be connectedwith the reach by a clip or union, as in the first-describedconstruction; but in the drawings I have shown a union of a modifiedform, consisting of a lflat upright plate or web I of steel. The upperportion of this plate is brazed within the upright tube B', and itsprojecting lower `portion is arranged between the opposing at sides ofthe rear-fork tubes A2 A3 and brazed thereto. The adjacent portions ofsaid'tubes are indented or depressed to receive said plate, as shown at't' in Fig. 8, and the reach is provided in its upper side with a slotfor the passage of the plate, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The lower endof the upright tube B is brazed to the upper side of the reach. Theplate or union I is further secured to said upright tube by asheet-metal liner or strip .I of substantially rectangular form, whichrextends across the top of said plate and is brought to the inner sideof said tube and to the upper side of the reach, as shown in Fig. 7.

The converging portions of the rear fork in front of its bridge 'and-the parallel portions arranged within the reach-tube A4 are obviouslythe equivalent of the rear reach-section A of the construction shown inFigs. l to 5.

Velocipede-frames constructed according j to my invention are lighterthan frames in which castings or forgings are employed for connectingthe several members, and they are stronger than frames of equal weightprovided with such castings or forgings. They can be cheaply stamped insuitable dies and the constru-ction of the hanger or bracket involvesbut a fraction of the labor required to make a hanger having the usuallugs for connecting it with the frame-tubes, and it is free from flawsand not weakened by shrinkage. Furthermore, my improved frame `is acomplete structure independent of 'the hanger and would support its loadif the hanger should break or even in the absence of the hanger.

The several parts are bra'zed together al- Vmost entirely inside of thehanger, leaving only the spelter which runs out on the 'frametubes tobeI cleaned off after brazing. This advantage alone effects an importantsaving in labor.

My improved construction affords another important advantage over theconventional construction in which the hanger is built into the frame.In the latter construction the frame members are Vseparately brazed vtothe hanger, and vin case any of the joints are defective the frame isliable 'to break down, or should 'the hanger break the frame would alsobe broken. In my construction the frame members are united by meetingsurfaces of comparatively large area,which are not weakened by filingafter brazing, and the frame is therefore not liable to break down, evenif the hanger should break or become loose. Moreover, if any two of theframe members are properly brazed to the hanger they willeffectua'llysecure the hanger without the third member, thus leaving a margin ofsafety to allow for imperfect brazing.

The perforated hanger and the clip C are the only parts supplied to thetrade by the manufacturer, and it is evident that they can be made atless cost than a hanger having the usual projecting lugs, and as theparts are lighter and can be packed-in asmaller space the cost ofshipping them is correspondingly less.

I claim as my inventionl. In a velocipede-'frame the combination with acrank-hanger, of a reach composed of front and rear members lconnectedtogether w-ithin the hanger, and an uprightframe member extendingthrough the upper side of the hanger and connected to the reach Withinthe hanger, substantially as set forth.

'2. In a velocipede-frame, the combination with a crank-hanger, of acurved reach passing through the central portion of the hanger andhaving its bend or curved portion located within the hanger, and anupright frame mem- IOO IIO

ertoe?,

ber arranged in line with the reach and connected to the curved portionthereof, substantially as set forth.

3. In a VeIocipede-frame, the combination with a orankhanger, of a reachpassing through the hanger, an upright frame member extending throughthe upper side of the hanger, and a union which connects said framemember With the portion of the reach arranged Within the hanger,substantially as set forth.

4. In a velocipede-frame, the combination With a reach having its frontand rear portions connected by a bend or curved portion which is adaptedto Carry the crank-hanger, of an upright frame member extending up-Wardly from said bend, and a clip embracing said bend and having anupwardly-extending to which said upright frame member is se- 3o cured,substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 9th day of June, 1900.

EMMIT Gr. LATTA. Witnesses:

CHAS. J. RICE, H. L. BLossoRE.

